Page 38 of Benedict’s Rejuvenation (Dark Patriots #5)

The entire team, as I thought of us, had spent the past three days preparing for tomorrow night.

We reviewed exit strategies, ideas for engaging Wynne in conversation, and how we might finagle an invitation from him.

Additionally, we studied the maps repeatedly, along with the aerial shots.

I thought I was more familiar with his estate from the outside than our home in Montana.

It was stressful, but also exhilarating, at least I thought it was.

Ben and Beau were stressed by the fact that they had to take my sister and me into what they called enemy territory.

Thinking of my sister as we prepared to start today’s afternoon lesson or demo, I wanted to curse.

Since my meltdown slash flashback the other day, she was treating Ben like he wasn’t fully trustworthy with me.

I lost count of the times she asked if I was okay and if I’d like to move closer to her and Beau.

Beau tried to tell her that there was no need for it. I told her the same thing and assured her I was safe with Ben and he wasn’t secretly abusing me, but she seemed reluctant to let it go. If she didn’t soon, I’d have to have a long conversation with her that would upset her.

Ben, on his end, tried to let her comments and dirty looks roll off him.

He was more patient than I would be. Heath and Justin received the backlash of the tensions, and it made them less easygoing.

The more I thought about her bullheadedness, the angrier I got.

Which probably wasn’t the way to go into the next thing.

Yesterday, part of our day consisted of shooting practice.

Not only did the guys want to brush up on their skills, as if they needed that.

But they wanted to know if Keeley and I could handle the guns safely, and what our accuracy was like.

We’d made it fun and a competition. I admit my sister was slightly better than I, but not by much.

We then demonstrated our knife-fighting skills with rubber practice knives.

I preferred punch knives because you didn’t need a ton of skill to punch someone with one. However, I was also taught traditional knife fighting. Keeley and I demonstrated that as well, followed by the men. We didn’t make it a contest.

Today, we would finally let them see how well we knew how to fight and defend ourselves.

I knew my capture and confinement made the guys question my skills.

I didn’t blame them. It made me wonder, too, which led me to throw myself into practice when I was rescued.

Sometimes, Keeley was my partner. Other times, it was Dickie, Arnie, or Reed who went at it with me.

I hadn’t done it when Ben was around. Of course, Beau saw us sometimes, but he seemed content to let our actions speak for us.

He wore a smirk whenever we discussed it, and he had it now.

The weather in Hawaii was great. We were accustomed to much colder weather, so shorts and tank tops or T-shirts were a staple here even in October.

We’d gone outside in the large backyard to do the session.

We’d need all the room we could get. The guys must’ve thought we were fragile, because they’d gotten from somewhere pads to wear on our arms and legs.

I wanted to tell them half the fun was seeing if your opponent had bigger bruises and hurt more than you did the next day.

It was kinda insulting to note the guys didn’t have the pads.

“Are we all ready for this?” Heath asked.

“We are. Though I do have a suggestion, if you would do it,” I said sweetly.

“Shoot, tell us what it is,” Heath replied with an indulgent smile.

“I think it would be inspirational for Keeley and me to see how well you guys do against each other, and then we can go. We want to see the masters at it.” I didn’t quite simper, but I did make it sound as if I was fawning a bit.

I saw Beau put his hand over his mouth and turn his head away.

His shoulders were shaking. I’d bet money he was stifling his laughter.

“I have no problem with that. Do you guys?” Justin responded first. The guys all shook their heads, like Beau did, or said no.

“Alright, let’s get this started. I’ll go first. Anyone want to be my opponent?” Heath asked.

All three raised their hands. Heath considered them, then he pointed to Justin.

“We haven’t done much of this against each other.

Ben and I are old partners in this, and Beau is becoming one.

Let me dazzle you ladies with my stellar performance.

Justin, see if you can keep up and give them a decent showing. ”

Heath’s smirk made us giggle. He could be such a conceited asshole, but in actuality, he wasn’t that bad. He was out to get reactions. Justin wasn’t offended. He rolled his eyes and gave Heath the middle finger. Like a switch, all smiles and teasing stopped, and they became deeply serious.

We watched as they circled each other. There was no trash talk or egging the other on. Something told me it wouldn’t work anyway. They started with what I called exploratory moves toward each other to see what they could evoke as a response, and testing punches thrown or kicks made.

After a handful of those, they seemed to be ready.

I watched how the guys positioned themselves, where they distributed their weight the most. How much did they pivot?

Were they more likely to throw right-handed or left-handed punches?

Did they have a favorite combo or predictable moves you could count on?

The list went on. Dad’s voice and those of his friends filled my ears as I watched.

Keeley had come to stand next to me. Ben and Beau weren’t too far away, talking to each other in low voices.

“How do you want to do this? Do we show what we have, then ask to spar with them? Or we hold back, show just a little, and then ask to go up against them and let our true training show? I think it would be fun to shock the hell out of some of them. Ben and Beau collectively won’t be as surprised, but neither has seen us at our utmost,” my sister said softly.

“I like the second option the most. I know there are more doubts about my skill level than there are about yours. No one can forget my captivity.”

“That’s bullshit. Anyone can be surprised and taken down, regardless of how well-trained they are. Dad always taught us that, so the fact you were taken doesn’t mean you’re incompetent. Today, you’ll show them what I know you’re capable of.”

I had to give her a hug for her unwavering support. I was letting go when Heath called over to us.

“Make sure you’re paying attention. There will be a practical afterward.”

We smiled and focused our attention back on the two guys. Each had great form and technique. I wondered if they could get dirtier. Dad ensured we fought to survive, and if you had to use dirty moves to accomplish that, so be it. The idea was to live, not demonstrate perfect technique.

As I continued to watch them, I cataloged the surrounding area for what I could use to my advantage. I knew Keeley was doing the same. By the time they were finished, I was ready to see Ben and Beau go at it.

“Do you ladies want to go first, and we’ll tie up the end?” Beau asked.

“Thank you, but no. We want to know how all of you do it,” Keeley answered for us. She was smiling prettily. If Beau knew her like I thought he did, he knew he was in trouble. The chin lift he gave her indicated he did.

No offense to Justin and Heath. They were experts, but watching Ben and Beau go at it was a step above. Maybe it was because one of the guys was mine. I did pay attention to Beau’s moves, but not as minutely as I focused on Ben’s. His body was incredible to watch.

By the time they were through, they were drenched with sweat. My body throbbed with the desire to drag Ben off and see if I could make him sweat more and rub my body all over his.

“Shake it off. We can’t let them hypnotize us,” Keeley muttered harshly in my ear as she pinched my arm.

“Ouch, bitch,” I said back, without heat.

She laughed, and I grinned. She was right, and her pinch helped to snap me out of it. I knew going up against Ben would probably cause me to lose my concentration.

“I think for it to be fair, and to eliminate favoritism or someone going easy on the other, we can’t have Ben and Kensy together or Beau and Keeley.

Justin and I talked about it, and he wants to spar with Keeley.

He thinks Kensy will be a bit more comfortable with me since we’ve known each other longer.

It says nothing about his opinion of your skills,” Heath blurted out.

“Thank you for thinking of me, Justin, though I am okay to spar with either of you. Are we doing this one at a time, or will both couples fight at once?”

As I spoke, I was loosening my muscles. I’d done it while the guys sparred, and so had my sister.

“What do you think?” Justin asked our men.

“If we split our attention, one of us watching each, it might not be as productive in pointers we might give,” Ben said.

“True. Okay, then it’ll be one at a time. Who’s going first?” Beau asked.

“I will,” Keeley said before I could. She winked where they couldn’t see it.

Keeley’s advantage was that she’d had five more years of training with Dad and his friends.

She was a harder puncher and kicker than I was.

Her combinations were different as well.

I smugly watched as she put Justin through the wringer.

That’s not to say he didn’t score because he did.

But that only started after he realized she wasn’t holding back or pulling her punches.

If he wanted his ass thoroughly kicked, he could keep doing it on his end.

They went at it for about twenty minutes before Beau called it.

Keeley hugged Justin and thanked him for a great workout.